Oh for Fuck Sake!

[Hwen Hoshino]

I am sure you could not have handled the transition if there was no ceremony.

I did not attend the ceremony, I went to work instead. Later I received my diploma in the mail (they don't give you a real sheep-skin anyway); as well as my first scholarship check (they used to give you those for scoring very high on your SAT.) When I got my first college degree, I was playing Pomp and Circumstance, sotte voce in the pit orchestra as they repeatedly mispronounced my name to hand my my awards and fake diploma. I didn't don the mortar board and robe for my second (third) degree either. Nor did I pay any fees to join the various honor societies to which I was accepted, though there is a picture of me in one yearbook's chess club.

Graduations are for your family, not you.

p.s. I'm collecting my caps & gowns 'cuz that's what I do.

How do they benefit the family?

[Alexander PhiAlipson]

Man, I don't want to, but I am afraid I am going to have to sound the

NERD ALERT!!!

Nah, I was a burn-out: long hair, army-jacket, guitar player in a Zeppelin cover band--I don't think nerds were invented yet, though we had punchable punks aplenty. I took what were called Regents classes, (I guess they're sort of like AP classes today) which means you could actually achieve a failing grade but pass the class if you passed the Regents' test at the end of the year (I think they were only available in New York, but systemic racism probably ended them.)

[Fife]

How do they benefit the family?

Obviously they don't in every case. :altwink:

[Alexander PhiAlipson]

How do they benefit the family?

Some parents seem to think graduating high is an achievement. I've heard it's not easy for everybody to do so. Some parents may find some joy and pride in their children for graduating.
Do you really need such things explained, or is this your Socrates imitation? If the former, welcome to the world; if the latter, have some tea.

[Hwen Hoshino]

How do they benefit the family?

Some parents seem to think graduating high is an achievement. I've heard it's not easy for everybody to do so. Some parents may find some joy and pride in their children for graduating.
Do you really need such things explained, or is this your Socrates imitation? If the former, welcome to the world; if the latter, have some tea.

Just because something is a tradition it does not mean it makes sense.

[BjornP]

Some parents seem to think graduating high is an achievement. I've heard it's not easy for everybody to do so. Some parents may find some joy and pride in their children for graduating.
Do you really need such things explained, or is this your Socrates imitation? If the former, welcome to the world; if the latter, have some tea.

Just because something is a tradition it does not mean it makes sense.

And people are supposed to care that a tradition doesn't "make sense" because...?

[Fife]

[Hwen Hoshino]

Some parents seem to think graduating high is an achievement. I've heard it's not easy for everybody to do so. Some parents may find some joy and pride in their children for graduating.
Do you really need such things explained, or is this your Socrates imitation? If the former, welcome to the world; if the latter, have some tea.

Just because something is a tradition it does not mean it makes sense.

And people are supposed to care that a tradition doesn't "make sense" because...?

Because are human, more evovled, smarter etc...

[BjornP]

Just because something is a tradition it does not mean it makes sense.

And people are supposed to care that a tradition doesn't "make sense" because...?

Because are human, more evovled, smarter etc...

Oh, you have to do way better than that. Tradition is a result of us being more evolved than other animals.

[Ex-California]

At high school graduation the Catholic school tried to exercise control over me one more time by threatening to not let me walk because I had the wrong shoes on

At college graduation I was in the middle of such a coke and booze bender that I was still very intoxicated during the ceremony which is held early in the morning due to the heat of Chico at the end of May. Two of my very good friends were also History majors so we sat next to each other and were the peanut gallery for everyone around us.